These were questions in an introductory course examination. How would you answer them?

1. Who invented karma, and why?2. What are the most important differences between a Mahāyāna Bodhisattvaand the Bodhisattva in Śrāvakayāna (e.g. Theravāda)?3. What is the difference between emptiness in Abhidharma and in theMahāyānist tradition of the “Perfection of Wisdom” (Prajñāpāramitā)?4. What are the causes for suffering, and how do they relate to each other?5. Is meritorious action sufficient to escape from the cycle of rebirth? If yes,explain why, if not, explain why not and what else might be necessary.Consider differences between Śrāvaka- and Mahāyāna in your explanation.6. What are the spiritual goals of an Arhat and of a Bodhisattva? Do the pathsleading to these goals differ? (If yes, how, if not, how can the same path leadto different goals?)7. How can the rules of the Vinaya for the life of individual monks or nuns beunderstood as an expression of Buddhist principles?8. Does a Mahāyāna Bodhisattva have to keep the Vinaya rules for a monk? Ifyes, why, if no, why not?9. Is the Mahāyāna a Buddhist school?10. What is the function of the no-self-doctrine (S anātmavāda / P anattavāda)?

Some of these questions can be answered in one word. Others could take pages. Some are inaccurately worded (meaning that a correct answer is not feasible). ...

Profile Picture: "The Foaming Monk"The Chinese characters are Fo (buddha) and Ming (bright). The image is of a student of Buddhism, who, imagining himself to be a monk, and not understanding the true meaning of the words takes the sound of the words literally. Likewise, People on web forums sometime seem to be foaming at the mouth. Original painting by P.Volker /used by permission.

These were questions in an introductory course examination. How would you answer them?

1. Who invented karma, and why?

Nobody, people explained karma.

2. What are the most important differences between a Mahāyāna Bodhisattvaand the Bodhisattva in Śrāvakayāna (e.g. Theravāda)?

None (as far as I am concerned)

3. What is the difference between emptiness in Abhidharma and in theMahāyānist tradition of the “Perfection of Wisdom” (Prajñāpāramitā)?

Depends on which Abhidharma you are talking about.

4. What are the causes for suffering, and how do they relate to each other?

Ignorance of the nature of reality. (how do who/what relate to each other?)

5. Is meritorious action sufficient to escape from the cycle of rebirth? If yes,explain why, if not, explain why not and what else might be necessary.Consider differences between Śrāvaka- and Mahāyāna in your explanation.

No. You need to develop wisdom too.

6. What are the spiritual goals of an Arhat and of a Bodhisattva? Do the pathsleading to these goals differ? (If yes, how, if not, how can the same path leadto different goals?)

No difference, both aim for liberation.Not really, both paths contain all the elements of the other.

7. How can the rules of the Vinaya for the life of individual monks or nuns beunderstood as an expression of Buddhist principles?

Because they are based on Buddhist principles (sheeesh, who came up with these questions?)

8. Does a Mahāyāna Bodhisattva have to keep the Vinaya rules for a monk? Ifyes, why, if no, why not?

No, if they are not a monk. Yes, if they are a monk.

9. Is the Mahāyāna a Buddhist school?

What? Those losers? No way are they Buddhists!

10. What is the function of the no-self-doctrine (S anātmavāda / P anattavāda)?

To erradicate clinging to a self and all the unwholesome actions that may arise from this clinging.

2. What are the most important differences between a Mahāyāna Bodhisattvaand the Bodhisattva in Śrāvakayāna (e.g. Theravāda)?

One is Mahayana and the other is Sravakayana.

3. What is the difference between emptiness in Abhidharma and in theMahāyānist tradition of the “Perfection of Wisdom” (Prajñāpāramitā)?

Emptiness is all the same.

4. What are the causes for suffering, and how do they relate to each other?

Ignorance and we continue to do it through body, speech, and mind.

5. Is meritorious action sufficient to escape from the cycle of rebirth? If yes,explain why, if not, explain why not and what else might be necessary.Consider differences between Śrāvaka- and Mahāyāna in your explanation.

Yes, if the actions done are not remembered because there is no perception of receiver and giver.

6. What are the spiritual goals of an Arhat and of a Bodhisattva? Do the pathsleading to these goals differ? (If yes, how, if not, how can the same path leadto different goals?)

Arahant's is to be free from suffering. Bodhisattva is to be free from suffering but a Bodhisattva continues to help other from be free from suffering.

7. How can the rules of the Vinaya for the life of individual monks or nuns beunderstood as an expression of Buddhist principles?

Rules help with Concentration and Concentration leads to Wisdom.

8. Does a Mahāyāna Bodhisattva have to keep the Vinaya rules for a monk? Ifyes, why, if no, why not?

Yes, because Bodhisattva in general will act like a Bodhisattva.

9. Is the Mahāyāna a Buddhist school?

Yes, it is a school of thought.

10. What is the function of the no-self-doctrine (S anātmavāda / P anattavāda)?

To teach sentient beings from clinging.

NAMO AMITABHANAM MO A DI DA PHAT (VIETNAMESE)NAMO AMITUOFO (CHINESE)Bodhidharma [my translation]―I come to the East to transmit this clear knowing mind without constructing any dharma―

Many of the questions have different answers depending on the school of thought.

I'm glad these exam questions look reasonable.

In the USA, you might be asked something by a confused professor at a confused university like, "What is the sound of one Buddha at one with everything?" Because the material the course was based on was a combination of modern historical fiction and commentaries by non-Buddhist Asiaologist PhDs.